The Department of African American Studies offers you the opportunity to study Black history, culture, and society in interdisciplinary models that reconstruct African American life. It challenges you to critically examine facts and issues that are historically and contemporaneously relevant to the African American experience. The department is committed to bringing academic research to the broadest possible audience, with the belief that the deepest understanding of the complex reality of race in America requires a truly interdisciplinary approach, one that draws on courses in music, literature, history, political science, education, and sociology.
African American Studies students gain deeper insight into ongoing racial inequality and social justice, helping them be more informed and empathetic when addressing issues of equity in their future careers. Students will graduate prepared to interact effectively in a multicultural world and workplaces and to share the results of academic research in the area of race with their communities.
Faculty members and students are active in a broad range of activities, including hip-hop programs for at-risk youth, college classes for low-income adults, the Prison Education Initiative, and the Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History. We are proud of our strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues in many other disciplines, especially the departments of Gender and Women’s Studies, African Cultural Studies, English, History, and the School of Education.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | None |
| Other | None |
Students intending to major in African American Studies should contact the Undergraduate Advisor.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | the third unit of a language other than English |
| Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
The major in African American Studies requires a minimum of 30 credits. 15 of those credits must be numbered 300 and above. Students must take 2 courses from each of the five areas listed below:
- Literature;
- History and Society;
- Arts and Culture;
- Seminars and Advanced Courses; and
- Electives.
Literature
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Courses From: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Black Women Writers | ||
| Introduction to African American Dramatic Literature | ||
| Introduction to African American Literature | ||
| African-American Autobiography | ||
| The Harlem Renaissance | ||
| The Black Arts Movement | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
History and Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Courses From: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Contemporary African American Society | ||
| Introduction to African American History | ||
| Race and American Politics from the New Deal to the New Right | ||
| African American History Since 1900 | ||
| African American History to 1900 | ||
| Black Women in America: Reconstruction to the Present | ||
| Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society | ||
| Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Arts and Culture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Courses From | 6 | |
| Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society | ||
| Black Music and American Cultural History | ||
| Introduction to African Art and Architecture | ||
| Introduction to Afro-American Art | ||
| Artistic/Cultural Images of Black Women | ||
| Blacks, Film, and Society | ||
| Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Seminars and Advanced Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Courses From | 6 | |
| Major Authors | ||
| Slavery and Capitalism in the United States | ||
| African American Women's Activism (19th & 20th Centuries) | ||
| Gender, Race and the Civil Rights Movement | ||
| History of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States | ||
| Colloquium in African American History | ||
| Selected Topics in African American History | ||
| Selected Topics in African American Literature | ||
| Selected Topics in African American Society | ||
| Selected Topics in African American Culture | ||
| Critical and Theoretical Perspectives in Black Women's Writings | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Courses From | 6 | |
| Introduction to Comparative US Ethnic, American Indian, and Indigenous Studies | ||
| They: Race in American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Black Women's Studies | ||
| Selected Topics in African American Culture | ||
| Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | ||
| Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | ||
| Black Feminisms | ||
| The Caribbean and its Diasporas | ||
| African American Political Theory | ||
| Race, American Medicine and Public Health | ||
| History of African American Education | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all AFROAMER and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major, in residence2
- 15 credits in AFROAMER, taken on the UW–Madison campus
- 2
Upper-level in the major includes AFROAMER courses numbered 300 and above and courses that count for the major that are designated as Intermediate or Advanced level.
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the African American Studies Major in consultation with the African American Studies undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the African American Studies Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in African American Studies, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- 3.300 University GPA
- 3.500 GPA in all AFROAMER courses, and all courses accepted in the major
- Complete at least one course with a cross-cultural or comparative focus:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFROAMER/ART HIST 241 | Introduction to African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ANTHRO/C&E SOC/GEOG/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN/ANTHRO/GEOG/HISTORY/POLI SCI/SOC 277 | Africa: An Introductory Survey | 4 |
| AFROAMER/DANCE/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ASIAN AM/DANCE/FOLKLORE 319 | Afro Asian Improv: From Hip Hop to Martial Arts Fusion | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/AFRICAN 413 | Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama | 3-4 |
- Complete at least 15 credits in AFROAMER in courses numbered 500-599 or 600-699, to include a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in AFROAMER 681 and AFROAMER 682, for a total of 6 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Familiar with the history, culture and social conditions of African Americans in the United States and, secondarily, in the African diaspora.
- Prepared to interact effectively in a multicultural world.
- Prepared to share the results of academic research in the area of race with their communities in Wisconsin, the U.S., and the world.
- Prepared for careers working in institutions that address the needs of multicultural communities.
- Develop an understanding of the connection between different disciplinary approaches to the study of race.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication-A (complete during your first year) | 3 | AFROAMER major course | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning-A (complete during your first year) | 3 | AFROAMER major course (Literature)2 | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | AFROAMER elective (Ethnic Studies)3 | 3 |
| AFROAMER Arts & Culture course1 | 3 | AFROAMER major course (History & Society)4 | 3 |
| Elective (eg. SEED = 1 credit) | 1-3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning-B | 4 | Communication-B | 3-4 |
| INTER-LS 210 (Elective) | 1 | AFROAMER major course numbered 300-above (History & Society) | 3 |
| AFROAMER major course (Arts & Culture) | 3 | Physical Science Breadth | 3 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Declare the Major (before 86 credits)4 | AFROAMER major course numbered 300-higher (Literature) | 3 | |
| I/A Comp Sci, Math or Stats (if required for BS) | 3 | AFROAMER major course numbered 300-higher | 3 |
| AFROAMER major course numbered 300 and higher | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AFROAMER seminar | 3 | AFROAMER Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
Many AFROAMER courses from Arts & Culture carry Humanities breadth and will also meet the L&S Breadth requirement for Humanities (up to 6 credits).
- 2
AFROAMER literature courses will satisfy the L&S Literature Breadth requirement (6 credits of Literature course work).
- 3
Nearly all AFROAMER courses carry the Ethnic Studies (ESR) designation and will apply to General Education and the major. Students should complete ESR within first 60 credits.
- 4
Many AFROAMER courses in History & Society will carry Social Science Breadth and also meet the L&S Breadth requirements for Social Science (12 credits) course work.
- 5
Students must declare a major by the time they reach 86 credits.
Advising and Careers
Declare or cancel this major
Please follow the process on the African American Studies website.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students